Tired of drinking plain water?

We all get told that we need to drink more water. It's good for our complexion, health, helps you lose weight, yadda yadda yadda. But let's face it: water gets boring! There are a lot of things out there to add to your drink to make it taste better. Some add caffeine with their flavor, others vitamins, and yet others just a couple calories. I'll use the vitamin ones if I feel a cold coming on, but other then that I avoid them. What do I do instead, you ask? I make tea.

Now, to most people, tea is something you drink hot, or you make iced tea in summer. I've found that I actually enjoy making a pot of tea, putting it in my aluminum water bottle (no more plastic ones, gotta stay green!) and throwing it in the fridge overnight. If you're thinking of doing this however, there are a couple of things you should consider.

1) What will taste good cold? I, for one, do not like black tea, not even warm. Blasphemous, I know. Plain green tea can also get rather bitter some times, so I have a tendency to mix it with a different kind of tea, a fruitier one, perhaps. Many water bottles can hold more than one cup of liquid, so don't be afraid to make cups of different kinds of tea and mix them.

2) How much time do you have? If you're the kind that makes your beverage in the morning, feel free to put your water bottle in the freezer for a quick zap of cold. Don't do this overnight, however. If you have the lid on and do this, your bottle will crack and explode (I learned this the hard way).

3) Are you looking for a boost? If you're replacing your usual water with tea, this might not be a concern. If you're looking, however, to maybe start replacing some of that coffee or soda, consider a tea with caffeine in it, such as black or green. Looking for something with anti-oxidants? Try oolong, or one of many fruit flavors.

4) What kind of tea are you using? While for many people, tea in a packet works just fine, most tea drinkers prefer using loose-leaf teas. The packets you buy at the local grocery store use a lesser product than loose-leaf. One downside of loose-leaf teas is that it's harder to make on the go. If I'm going to travel, or for a day at the office, I take a good-quality tea bag with me, but make my loose-leaf that morning.

Just some thoughts to consider!